Condom key chains in U.S. spark religious furore
 

Condom key chains in U.S. spark religious furore

BOSTON (Reuters) - A Connecticut abortion rights group has angered some conservative Christian groups by selling condom key chains that include an image of Michelangelo's
Sistine Chapel with God handing Adam a condom.

"It's an example of depraved morals and contempt for the sensibility of Catholics everywhere," said C.J. Doyle of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts.

The $3 (1.7 pound) key chains sold by Planned Parenthood of Connecticut on its Web site come in 28 designs including an image of a U.S. flag with the stars replaced with the words "Wear with Pride" and a Statue of Liberty holding a condom instead of a torch.

Another reads" "Condoms are cheaper than diapers" over a cartoon of a screaming baby.

Judy Tabar, Planned Parenthood of Connecticut's president and chief executive, said growing controversy over the key chains sparked a surge in Internet traffic to its Web site this week.

She said 100,000 visitors swamped the site on Thursday, causing it to shut down temporarily, after Internet columnist Matt Drudge posted a statement by a conservative Christian group condemning the key chains as "blasphemous."

The key chains had been on sale for a year, but had attracted controversy only this week.

"The media attention led to an avalanche of orders so much so that it caused our Web site to shut down. We have expanded our capacity and it is up again today," she said.

The politically sensitive issues of unwanted pregnancy and abortion are among the hottest topics in Washington this week during Senate confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.

Kristian Mineau, president of the conservative Massachusetts Family Institute, called the Sistine Chapel key chain image "a very crude and crass manoeuvre."

"This does nothing to deal with the horrific promiscuity rate we have among teenagers," he said. "We believe the real approach particularly to the young people that this is targeted at is abstinence before marriage."

Taber said the variety of designs was aimed at appealing to a wide range of personalities. "Condoms are the best protection against unintended pregnancy and infection, so it's really important to get the message out there," she said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060113/...ligion_condoms

Idiots..

The far right have come out with an official announcement.
" We just want everyone to go back in time and live in the 50's"

Looks like their stunt worked. Lots of press. I'm sure they'll sell quite a few now.

:thumbsup

I want one.

brilliant marketing ...

And the conservatives just fell into the trap ... not very smart.

The point of bringing attention to things is not always about stopping it for everyone, sometimes it is just about bringing attention to it so your flock can be strengthened in your leadership. If you figured out it was a trap, don't think anyone on their side was able to figure it out also? Do you think they really care about your soul, they are looking out for their souls and the souls of others they can get pps out of ;)

the religious all are the rable rousers it seems :)

The "Church" isn't interested in souls and hasn't been interested in hundreds of years.

They're interested in one thing $$$.

exactly..baitign the enemy marketing